Skopje, 25 August 2025 (MIA) — Minister of Finance Gordana Dimitrieska Kochoska in Zagreb, alongside ministers of finance and senior officials from Central and Southeastern European countries, took part in a panel on strengthening national capital markets through regional cooperation.

The panel followed the Macedonian finance minister's signing of a memorandum of understanding with her counterparts from Croatia, Slovenia, Poland, Slovakia, Romania, Bulgaria and Hungary aimed at strengthening capital markets and promoting greater integration, which should eventually lead to the establishment of a joint stock exchange index.

"I strongly believe that in two to three years we will see the benefits our business sector and our companies will receive from this memorandum," Dimitrieska Kochoska said. 

"I come from the private sector and I know full well how hard it is for a company to convince a bank that its innovative idea is serious enough to succeed. In such conditions, the capital market is the only way for companies to grow faster and realize their potential," she said.

She said ragional capital market integration would allow local companies, especially small and medium-sized enterprises that are the backbone of the economy, to gain a larger number of investors, different sources of capital and new cross-border partnerships.

"Our domestic market is relatively small and limited in liquidity," she noted, adding that the Croatian initiative opened the door to a broader market and stronger financing opportunities. 

"This is not only a matter of finance but also of trust and credibility. With integration, we are getting closer to European standards. We are strengthening transparency, predictability and investors' trust. This is an essential prerequisite for greater investments," she said, also pointing out the importance of aligning regional legislation.

According to the Croatian news agency Hina, besides facilitating access to capital, the initiative is also expected to boost the countries' competitiveness and cross-border trade, attract international investors and ultimately stimulate economic growth.

Croatia's Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Marko Primorac said capital markets in Eastern and Southeastern Europe were small and fragmented, with different trading regulations making cross-border cooperation and trade challenging.

"That is why the countries have decided to join forces and take a collective step forward," Primorac said, Hina reported.

"By uniting our markets, and potentially creating a joint stock exchange index in the future, we believe we could be recognized as an investment destination on the global financial map, diversify our investor and issuer base, increase trading volumes and attract foreign capital," he said. mr/